PFIPC: Court Rejects Adeyemi Bail Request, Grants Lawyers Access

The self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi has failed to secure immediate release from detention after the Federal High Court in Abuja declined to grant his bail request.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday ordered the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to allow Adeyemi access to his lawyers while he remains in custody.

The ruling followed a fundamental rights suit filed by Adeyemi challenging aspects of his continued detention.

Although the court granted his request to have access to legal practitioners of his choice, Justice Egwuatu declined to order his release or grant bail at the stage of the proceedings.

The judge also refused, for now, Adeyemi’s request to be allowed to receive medical treatment from doctors of his choice.

Rather than determine those requests without hearing from the authorities holding him, the court directed the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the AGF to appear and explain why the outstanding reliefs sought by Adeyemi should not be granted.

The respondents were given 72 hours to show cause.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter until September 9, when the court is expected to consider the response from the respondents.

Adeyemi had approached the court with six major requests concerning his detention and the conditions under which he is being held.

Among other things, he asked the court to order the authorities to release him and admit him to bail pending the determination of his fundamental rights case.

He also requested permission to consult medical practitioners of his choice.

Another part of his application sought an order preventing the police from questioning him, obtaining a statement from him or requiring him to sign any document unless his lawyer was present.

However, the court only granted the aspect of the application dealing with access to legal representation.

The relief granted by the court states: “an order that, for so long as the applicant remains in custody, the respondents do permit the applicant unimpeded access to legal practitioners of his own choosing at all reasonable hours.”

The order means Adeyemi can meet and consult his lawyers while in detention, subject to reasonable hours.

His requests for bail, release, medical access and restrictions on police interrogation will now be considered after the respondents have had an opportunity to present their position before the court.

The case is the latest development in the legal troubles surrounding Adeyemi and the disputed PFIPC.

Adeyemi has been in police custody since his arrest in July after a Federal High Court issued a bench warrant following his failure to appear for arraignment.

The warrant was issued by Justice Mohammed Umar after Adeyemi failed to appear before the court on a scheduled date to answer an eight-count charge filed against him.

The charges border on alleged conspiracy, forgery, fraud and impersonation.

Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and maintained that the council exists.

The police, however, allege that he falsely presented himself as the Director-General of a government organisation that was not legally established.

One of the central allegations against him concerns an appointment letter which prosecutors say was forged and presented as having been issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The prosecution also accused Adeyemi of using other purported government documents in connection with the activities of the PFIPC.

The Presidency has repeatedly distanced itself from the organisation and maintained that it was not established by the Tinubu administration.

Adeyemi, however, has continued to dispute the allegations and has insisted that the organisation was genuine.

His arrest followed repeated difficulties in bringing him before the court for arraignment.

When the matter came up in July, the prosecution told the court that Adeyemi had failed to appear on several previous dates.

Justice Umar subsequently issued the warrant directing security agencies to locate him and produce him before the court.

Adeyemi was later arrested in Osun State by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team.

He was subsequently taken into custody in connection with the criminal investigation.

His lawyer had earlier told the court that Adeyemi feared for his safety and had written to President Tinubu because of the controversy surrounding the case.

The court nevertheless ordered that he be arrested and brought before it for arraignment.

The criminal case has now been fixed for September 30, 2026, when Adeyemi is expected to face the eight-count charge.